The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) is rolling out a monitoring app to simplify the reporting of reckless driving incidents.
In 2023, Ghana saw 14,135 road crashes, which claimed 2,276 lives and left 15,409 injured.
Speaking at the NRSA’s 25th anniversary in Accra, acting Board Chairman Mr Jeremaine Nkrumah announced the app’s introduction to combat this growing issue and urged drivers to stay vigilant.
The 14,135 road crashes in 2023 also led to 15,409 injuries, according to the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service.
Despite a drop in accidents this year, acting Board Chairman of the NRSA, Jeremaine Nkrumah highlighted that the death toll remains alarmingly high. “When you look at the number this year it’s 1,614. It’s not just a number but 1,000 funerals more. Children, spouses, and everything.
Each time this happens people gather to mourn so to me these aren’t just numbers but humans. It’s in our interest to make sure that the road rules are followed” he said.
He attributed the majority of fatalities to commercial vehicles, urging drivers to exercise greater caution on the roads as part of efforts to curb these tragic losses.
He presented a chart showing a slight reduction in accidents over the years.
While acknowledging the drop in road accidents due to intensified public education, Chief Director at the Transport Ministry, Mabel Sagoe, emphasized the need for adopting innovative, data-driven strategies to achieve even greater reductions.
Some listed notable interventions such as the ‘Arrive Alive Stay Alive’ road safety campaign, the launch of the Ghana transport project and the digital platform for commercial transport groups.
The anniversary was celebrated on the theme “25 years of promoting road safety and awarding excellence”.
Source: Abigail Oppong Boateng
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